The Effectiveness of Propranolol in Treating Infantile Haemangiomas: a Meta-analysis Including 35 Studies

Overview

Journal Br J Clin Pharmacol

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 2013 Sep 17

PMID 24033819

Citations 28

Authors

Yin Lou

Wen-jia Peng

Yi Cao

Dong-Sheng Cao

Juan Xie

Hong-Hong Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aims: Propranolol may have shown excellent results as a first line therapy in infantile haemangiomas (IHs) at all sites in the body, but this conclusion remains controversial. In an attempt to resolve this issue, we performed a meta-analysis.

Methods: A search of the literature using PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library databases and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) was performed to identify studies which estimated the efficacy of propranolol therapy in infants with haemangiomas all sites of the body. The pooled odds ratio (OR) along with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were assessed using a fixed effects model.

Results: Thirty-five studies involving 324 infantile haemangioma(IH) patients and 248 controls were retrieved and analyzed. The efficacy of propranolol was greater than other therapies in treating IHs (OR = 9.67, 95% CI 6.62, 14.12, P < 0.001). In a stratified analysis by sites of tumour, propranolol was a more effective therapy when compared with steroids (OR = 9.67, 95% CI 6.61, 14.15, P < 0.001), vincristine (OR = 9.00, 95% CI 2.15, 37.66, P = 0.003) and laser treatment (OR = 9.00, 95% CI 1.42, 57.12, P = 0.020) in treating cutaneous IHs (OR = 24.95, 95% CI 9.48, 65.64, P < 0.001), peri-ocular IHs (OR = 9.39, 95% CI 3.88, 22.71, P < 0.001), infantile airway haemangiomas (OR = 20.91, 95% CI 7.81, 55.96, P < 0.001) and infantile hepatic haemangiomas (OR = 9.89, 95% CI 1.20, 81.54, P = 0.033).

Conclusion: The current meta-analysis provided strong evidence for propranolol as a first line therapy for IHs.

Citing Articles

Diagnosis and Treatment of Infantile Hemangioma from the Primary Care Paediatricians to the Specialist: A Narrative Review.

Bellinato F, Marocchi M, Pecoraro L, Zaffanello M, Del Giglio M, Girolomoni G Children (Basel). 2024; 11(11).

PMID: 39594972 PMC: 11593309. DOI: 10.3390/children11111397.

Comparison of efficacy and safety between oral propranolol combined with and without intralesional injection of lauromacrogol for infantile hemangioma.

Ma F, Liu X, Wang C, Duan H, Zhou K, Hu F Front Pediatr. 2024; 12:1361105.

PMID: 38989270 PMC: 11233721. DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1361105.

The role of liver transplantation in the care of primary hepatic vascular tumours in children.

Grimaldi C, de Ville de Goyet J, Bici K, Cianci M, Callea F, Morabito A Front Oncol. 2022; 12:1026232.

PMID: 36505841 PMC: 9730342. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1026232.

Application value of computer-assisted surgery system in pediatric hepatic hemangioma.

Xiu W, Liu J, Li T, Hao X, Liu H, Xia N Pediatr Surg Int. 2021; 37(11):1575-1583.

PMID: 34309718 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-021-04972-5.

Infantile Sacral Region Hemangioma and Combination Treatment with Propranolol and Topical Timolol: Case Review and Reference Review.

Kardasevic M, Dinarevic S Med Arch. 2021; 75(2):158-161.

PMID: 34219878 PMC: 8228564. DOI: 10.5455/medarh.2021.75.158-161.

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